Karnataka tops India Justice Report 2025

Karnataka has topped the India Justice Report (IJR) 2025, ranking first among 18 large and mid-sized states in justice delivery. However, despite its strong performance, the state faces significant challenges in prisons and legal aid.

Key Highlights of Karnataka’s Performance • Top Rank in Justice Delivery – Karnataka retained its first-place position from the previous edition.

• Strong Performance in Police & Judiciary – It is the only state to meet reservation quotas for SC, ST, and OBCs in both police and judiciary.

• Lowest Officer-Level Vacancy – Karnataka police has just 1.2% vacancy at the officer level, the lowest among large states.

• Highest Number of Paralegal Volunteers – The state leads in legal aid support, with the highest number of paralegal volunteers.

Challenges Karnataka Faces • Overcrowded Prisons – 80% of inmates in Karnataka’s prisons are undertrial prisoners, the highest since 2015.

• Declining Legal Aid Clinics – The number of legal service clinics in villages has dropped from 157 to just 32, limiting access to justice.

• Low Women Representation in Police – Despite efforts, Karnataka police remains male-dominated, with only 9% women in police and 6% at the officer level.

National Justice System Concerns • Judicial Backlogs – Over 5 crore cases are pending across courts in India. • Prison Overcrowding – Some prisons operate at over 200% occupancy, worsening conditions.

About the India Justice Report The India Justice Report (IJR) is India's only comprehensive quantitative index that ranks states based on their justice delivery capacity.